Evolutionary biologists commonly interpret adaptations of organisms by reference to a
phenotype-fitness map, a model of how different states of a phenotype affect fitness …

Background Optimality models of evolution, which ignore genetic details and focus on
natural selection, are widely used but sometimes criticized as oversimplifications. Their utility …

Optimality models assume that phenotypes evolve by natural selection largely
independently of underlying genetic mechanisms. This neglect of genetic mechanisms is …

Pick up an introductory biology textbook that describes bacteriophages. The presented
phage life cycle, often using phage λ as an example, will typically be differentiated into two …

Bacteriophage φX174 was evolved on a continuous supply of sensitive hosts for 180 days
(∼ 13,000 phage generations). The average rate of nucleotide substitution was nearly …

Optimality models have a checkered history in evolutionary biology. While optimality models
have been successful in providing valuable insight into the evolution of a wide variety of …

Optimality models collapse the vagaries of genetics into simple trade-offs to calculate
phenotypes expected to evolve by natural selection. Optimality approaches are commonly …

Optimality models constitute one of the simplest approaches to understanding phenotypic
evolution. Yet they have shortcomings that are not easily evaluated in most organisms. Most …

Eight bacteriophages were adapted for rapid growth under similar conditions to compare
their evolved, endpoint fitnesses. Four pairs of related phages were used, including two …

The effect of lysis timing on bacteriophage (phage) fitness has received little theoretical or
experimental attention. Previously, the impact of lysis timing on phage fitness was studied …